This play is a powerful account of the case filed by the American Federation for Equal Rights (AFER) in the U.S. District Court in 2010 to overturn Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that eliminated the rights of same-sex couples to marry in the state of California. Framed around the trial's historic closing arguments in June 2010, 8 provides an intimate look at what unfolded when the issue of same-sex marriage was on trial.

The play is a powerful account of the case filed by the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) in the U.S. District Court in 2010 to overturn Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that eliminated the rights of same-sex couples to marry in the state of California. Framed around the trial's historic closing arguments in June 2010, 8 provides an intimate look what unfolded when the issue of same-sex marriage was on trial.

this was so inspirational to listen to! The actual performance is quite short, only about half of the recording time. The rest is interviews with the cast, director and screenwriter, and lawyers involved in the actual case.The only difficulty I had was sometimes to identify who was speaking. Not being a big movie fan, I do not immediately recognize the voices of the actors, even if they are big names. But with context I figured out what was happening.I didn't follow along the Proposition 8 case as it happened, but after listening to this, I sure am following the developments now as the US heads towards another election.

In 2008, 52% of California voters approved Proposition 8 - "Only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." That promptly ended a period of a few months in California when same sex couples could, and did, marry.

'8' is dramatization of the arguments heard by Judge Vaughan Walker (Brad Pitt) of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in a case called Hollingsworth v. Perry.

'8' has a stunning cast. Martin Sheen was especially impassioned playing former Solicitor General Theodore B. Olson. George Clooney was played the more low-key David Boies. The dramatization was a reading, not a play. The actors used scripts, their was no blocking, and the reading was in front of a live LA Theater Works audience.

Do Olson and Boies sound familiar? They are the top constitutional lawyers in the United States, and were on opposite political sides in Bush v. Gore. Both men set aside their political differences to support marriage equality. There's an interview at the end that's enlightening.

The US Supreme Court (SCOTUS, for Supreme Court of the United States) will hear arguments on Hollingsworth v. Perry, and will answer the questions "Whether the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits the State of California from defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman; and (2) whether petitioners have standing under Article III, § 2 of the Constitution in this case."

These are the finest attorneys who can argue this issue before SCOTUS, and I am looking forward to Dustin Lance Black's update.

This is a dramatization of some of the court transcripts from the California Prop 8 case that ultimately saw the demise of Prop 8's hate and illogic in favor of legalized gay marriage in California. The win doesn't mean that we've won everywhere, however, but the actors in this are having a great time performing all the different pro and con players in the case, and the audience loves it. This has great energy, humor, and moments of deep sorrow for those who have had to wait so long to finally be allowed to marry. But it also gives the rest of us hope who don't have marriage yet.

Would you try another book from Dustin Lance Black and/or the narrators?

No, I would not try another book. I'm currently into the Theodore Roosevelt books by Edmund Morris and recommend them highly.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Ken Follet's latest continuation of his series great and will be up next.

What didn’t you like about the narrators’s performance?

I dislike the presentation of the material.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from 8 (Dramatized)?

I would not have listened to any of it. Dramatized to me would be the reading of the argument before the Supreme Court. Not something that sounds as if it was recorded in a High School Auditorium with the classmates and Parents going crazy when their favorite walked onto the stage.

First of all I am neither gay nor an American so perhaps I'm not quallified to pass comment but while all performances were superb I couldn't help but feel that the director and the actors tried the demonise the pro 8 side of the debate by intetionally making them sound leaving them feel like characatures while everyone else seem far more realistic. It's a minor point for what is an an otherwise excellent production with Pitt seeming to effortless;y posses the judgment of Soloman, Clooney excelling in cross examination Lee Curtis as both funny and heartwrenching as the moment demands, and Sheen stealling all with a tour de force final speech.

Highly recomended.

PS I completely support gay marriage

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